Roundabout



(No Model.)

W. SGHAFER.

I ROUNDABOUT. No. 480,477. Patented Aug. 9, 1892.

f W4: Figfl.

INVENTOR l BY pQyuwe x rromlf fi.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILHELM SCHAFER, OF VVHEELING, \VEST VIRGINIA.

ROUNDABOUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,477, dated August9, 1892.

Application filed April 30,1892. Serial No. 431,288. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILHELM SOHAFER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wheellng, in the county of Ohio and State of West Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roundabouts; and Ido herebydeclare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improvement in roundabouts in which bicycles orsimilar vehicles are employed; and it consists in the novel features ofconstruction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one form in which Ihavecontemplated embodying my invention, and said invention 1s fullydisclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring to said drawings, Figure 1 represents a roundabout embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 is a plan indicating the construction of one-halfof the roundabout. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the bicyclesemployed by me.

The drawings are sufficient to give a clear understanding of the natureand application of my invention; but the details of the construction ofthe roundabout may be of the usual or any preferred form.

A represents the central supporting-standard of the machine, preferablystationary, and a a a represent a series of radially-extending armssupported by said standard and adapted to revolve about the same. In thedrawings I have shown the arms provided with rollers a, engaging acircular supporting track or bracket A on the standard, and said armsare also provided at their outer ends with brace-rods a extending to acentral plate a which is pivotally secured to the top of the standard. Acap or cover a is made to engage the top of the standard and protect thepivotal connection from rust and dirt. Below the outer extremities ofthe arms a a are two circular tracksorflatsupporting-surfacesB Bconcentric with the center of standardA and having theirsupporting-surfaces in differenthorizontalp1anes,theinnertrackbeinghigher.

The bicycles O O are supported by rods 0,

which have their upper ends connected with the arms a to, adjacent totheir outer ends. Two of such bicycles are attached to each arm, one foreach of the tracks B B, and the axles of the wheels of the said machinesare coincident, as shown in Fig. 2, maybe formed in one piece, ifdesired, and are disposed radially with respect to the center of thestandard A. The wheels of the inner bicycle, having a shorter distanceto traverse, are made smaller than those of the outer bicycle, thedifference between the peripheries of the inner and outer wheels beingsuch that they will both make exactly the same number of revolutions intraversing their respective tracks, and the inner track is raised abovethe outer track, as before mentioned, such a distance that the wheels ofboth bicycles shall properly engage their upper surfaces.

I prefer that when the bicycle is not occupied by a rider that' itswheels shall barely touch the surface of its respective track; but whenthe bicycle is supplied with a rider the wheels will engage such surfacesufficiently to enable it to be readily propelled. The bicycles may beof any convenient form and will be provided with suitable propellingmechanism, as indicated in Fig. 3. I prefer to use the form shown and tosecure a handle-bar c to the supporting or suspending rod and to providea seat 0 for each machine, which shall be adjustable so that persons ofdiiferent heights can use the machines. I prefer to adjust the seats bymeans of a screw 0 the threaded stem engaging a screw-threaded socket 0as shown;but other adjusting mechanism might be employed.

It will be understood that in the operation of the machine persons willmount the bicycles and by propelling the same in the ordinary manner thewhole series of bicycles and the radial arms a will revolve about thecenter of the standard A. The axles of the inner and outerbicycle-wheels being the same, the wheels of both machines on each armwill revolve together, one pair upon the outer track and the other uponthe inner raised track.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a roundabout, the combination, with the inner and outer track, ofbicycles adapted to engage the same, having the peripheries of theirwheels similarly proportioned to the distance they respectivelytraverse, substantially as described.

2. In a roundabout, the combination, with the outer track and the innertrack in a higher plane than the outer track, of bicycles for engagingsaid inner and outer tracks, having the axles of their adjacent wheelsin line with each other and radially disposed with respect to saidtracks, the peripheries of the wheels of each bicycle being similarlyproportioned to the distance they respectively traverse, substantiallyas described.

3. In a roundabout, the combination, with the centralsupporting-standard and the radial revolving arms, of the outersupporting- \VILHELM SOI-IAFER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM BRAUN, JOHN EHRLE.

